Monday Escapes #18

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Monday Escapes is changing…

Allane and I can’t believe we’re 18 weeks into Monday Escapes and how popular it’s become with all of you wonderful travel bloggers. To say we’ve been overwhelmed is an understatement.

We set up this linky because we felt there was something a little lacking in the travel community that welcomed everyone from family-related posts to independent travellers. And I hope you’d all agree we’ve struck the right mix.

When we came up with the idea all those months ago, little did we know how many people would be joining in – our numbers are currently averaging around the 85 mark. And while we are really grateful for the support and the growing MondayEscapes community, Allane and I simply can’t keep up with you all!

We both want to be good hosts and make sure everyone gets commented on and shared across twitter but alongside everyday life and our own blogging schedules we’re finding it increasingly difficult to manage. So we’ve made a decision that I hope won’t affect your enjoyment of Monday Escapes. We’re going to change the frequency of the blog hop and the number of posts you can each link up.

From this week, please can you only link up one post each – we will do the same as hosts. And Monday Escapes will no longer be weekly but fortnightly instead. Of course, we will always send out a little tweet to remind you all.

We figure this way, it’s a win win – Allane and I will have more time to enjoy your travel stories and you’ll have more time to write them!

Back to last week – here are a selection of our favourite posts and photos. Please check them out if you haven’t already.

What is Monday Escapes?

Monday Escapes is all about looking back a wonderful, happy travel memories and sharing them with others. It doesn’t have to be abroad or even a written post. If you want to share your favourite snapshots – whether it’s a famous sight, scene, dramatic view or even a favourite family photo, then please feel free to link those up, too. Likewise, posts don’t have to be about holidays or weekends away, they can also include day trips, walks, attractions – any travel experience that you want to share.

How to join in

• Link up to one post/photo – old or new – here at Packing My Suitcase. • Please make sure to include the Monday Escapes badge at the bottom of the post, on your site, or a link back to the hosts. • Posts are anything travel-related, and can include photos, reviews, days out, attractions and walks – at home or abroad. • Comment on posts by the co-hosts and at least two others. Blog hops only work if you share the comment love. That’s why they’re so great! • If you tweet us your links @my_travelmonkey and @packingsuitcase, please use #MondayEscapes and we will be sure to retweet. • Similarly, if you want to show off your photos on Instagram using #MondayEscapes tagging @mytravelmonkey or @packingmysuitcase, we will happily share.

Monday Escapes will go live every fortnight, alternating between myself and Allane atPacking My Suitcase – and be open for seven days. Each fortnight, we will be giving a shout out to some of our favourite posts and photos, and choosing photos of the fortnight via Instagram.

Hey Ting, that is so great that the linky has become so popular. Totally understand it must very quite overwhelming to keep up. Adding just one link is a really good idea. Although, I’m not going to lie, am going to miss it being every Monday. #mondayescapes xx

Hi Ting. It is fabulous news that this linky has become so popular 🙂 I must take up an awful lot of yours and Allane’s time so I can completely understand why you are now limiting posts and making it fortnightly. I look forward to linking with you on a fortnightly basis 🙂

Thanks for choosing our photo! How fantastic that MondayEscapes has grown so big, so quickly – well done! But I completely understand how much time it must take up. We will definitely still keep linking up fortnightly.

I’m so sorry Ting, I’ve only just read the changes to your linky rules properly and realised I linked up two post. Please take one off as I really don’t want to make life harder for you. This is such a great linky with some fantastic posts – long may it continue! X

Wow… what an awesome turn out you have been receiving. Thank you for all of the hard work that goes into putting this together. I love checking in and reading all the great posts. I am a newbie so I also dig finally getting some comments on my posts too 😉 Thanks again!!

I’m sure the linky is a great deal of work, but thank you for keeping it going – it’s greatly appreciated, both as a blogger and a reader! #MondayEscapes is the biggest, most active that we participate in, and the variety is fantastic. Thanks to you and Allane for your hard work!

Oh no! I missed out last week while we were moving house. Completely understand the time it must take you to tweet and comment on everything, even only doing a handful each week takes time. Look forward to seeing you back again next week then!

It makes a lot of sense, Ting. 🙂 I came here this morning to apologise for not linking up this week. I had a bit of a mad scramble to get the post out and when I didn’t see your tweet in my Inbox I hadn’t time to go looking. I struggle to get around my handful of walkers so I don’t know how you and Allane do it (no sleep! 🙂 ) Your setup is very professional and I like it a lot. Very best wishes to you both. (and Monkey, of course)